-Real World: World Government Ship-
The moment Donquixote Doflamingo had set foot aboard the World Government ship, a cold realization had settled in his chest like a lead weight. This wasn't a summons—it was a trap. The elaborate courtesies, the formal protocols, the careful attention to his former status as a Celestial Dragon—all of it was window dressing for what amounted to a sophisticated kidnapping.
For a man who had spent decades manipulating others, who prided himself on controlling every variable in his environment, the sensation of powerlessness was both foreign and deeply disturbing. As Heavenly Yaksha, as King of Dressrosa, as one of the Shichibukai, he was accustomed to being the predator in any political equation. Now, for the first time in years, he found himself cast in the role of prey.
The ship's corridors were lined with God's Knights—elite warriors whose very presence spoke of the World Government's seriousness about this particular summons. Behind him walked two CP0 agents, their white masks and flowing robes making them appear more like death's avatars than human operatives. The combined escort was far more substantial than anything the Five Elders had ever provided before.
This is different, Doflamingo thought grimly as he was marched through the ship's pristine hallways. They've never taken me this seriously before. Not since...
The memory of his father's severed head, of standing before those same five men as a desperate child demanding readmittance to his birthright, flashed through his mind like a physical wound. That day, they had dismissed him like a stray dog, told him to crawl back to whatever gutter had spawned him. The humiliation had been absolute, scarring him in ways that decades of power and success could never fully heal.
But this time was different. This time, they were treating him like a genuine threat rather than a nuisance to be ignored.
The realization should have been satisfying, validation that his decades of careful planning and strategic positioning had finally earned him the respect he deserved. Instead, it filled him with dread. When the Five Elders treated someone as a threat, they typically followed up by eliminating that threat entirely.
The doors to the Room of Authority were massive constructs of reinforced steel and precious metals, adorned with the World Government's symbol and designed to intimidate anyone who approached them. As they swung open with mechanical precision, Doflamingo found himself face-to-face with the five most powerful men in the world.
The Five Elders sat in their customary arrangement, each positioned to create maximum psychological impact on visitors. Their ages were impossible to determine—they could have been sixty or six hundred, their faces bearing the weight of centuries of absolute authority. The room itself seemed to pulse with their combined presence, as if the very air recognized their supremacy over the world's fate.
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the Warrior God of Science and Defense, was the first to speak. His voice carried the cold precision of someone accustomed to dissecting problems—and people—with surgical efficiency.
"Doflamingo." The name fell from Saturn's lips like an accusation. "You dare to plant an undercover agent within the Marines. Such boldness... you are the first to attempt such a brazen infiltration of our most trusted institution."
The Marines are the hunting dogs of all Celestial Dragons, For a former Celestial Dragon to contaminate their ranks, to place one of his agents in a position of Vice Admiral authority... this transgression cannot be overlooked.
The murderous aura that emanated from Saturn was unlike anything Doflamingo had experienced since his childhood. It wasn't the hot rage of anger or the calculated menace of tactical intimidation—it was something far more primal. The killing intent of a predator that had decided its prey needed to be eliminated.
Sweat beaded on Doflamingo's forehead despite his best efforts to maintain composure. His own Conqueror's Haki, which had cowed countless enemies over the years, felt like a candle flame in the face of a hurricane. The difference in their fundamental power was staggering.
Saint Marcus Mars, the Warrior God of Environment, took up the interrogation with the patient tone of someone conducting a scientific experiment.
"The Donquixote bloodline continues to be... problematic," Mars observed, his ancient eyes studying Doflamingo like a specimen under glass. "Your father was an idealistic fool who believed in equality among all peoples. Your brother has been adopted by a Marine Admiral as some kind of pet project. And you..."
The Elder's gaze intensified, boring into Doflamingo's soul. "You apparently plan to destroy the world in five years, but lack the conviction to complete the task thoroughly. Tell me, do you seek to overthrow the existing world order simply to establish your own twisted values in its place?"
The question carried implications that made Doflamingo's blood run cold. If the Five Elders suspected him of harboring ambitions to replace their system rather than simply profit from it, then his life expectancy could be measured in minutes rather than years.
Then Saint Marcus Mars think about what the sky screen had shown, Saint Donquixote Mjosgard long lost sister, the one who will become the future Marine Admiral. Although she had not appeared in the Sky Screen, The Elder wanted to win her over and place her into the God Knight.
the Marines were becoming increasingly difficult to manage, their independence growing with each passing year. The Sky Screen's revelations of future Marine dominance had clearly alarmed the World Government's leadership to the point where they were actively recruiting countermeasures.
Doflamingo absorbed the verbal assault in silence, his mind racing through options and finding each one more limited than the last. The Sky Screen had revealed too much, exposed too many of his carefully hidden capabilities and connections. His value as a covert asset had been destroyed, leaving only his utility as a disposable tool.
They never intended for me to leave this room alive, he realized with crystalline clarity. This entire charade is just them deciding how best to extract value from my corpse.
The realization should have triggered panic, should have sent him into the desperate fury that had defined his younger years. Instead, it brought a strange sense of calm. If he was going to die anyway, he might as well ensure his death served a purpose.
"Although we find your methods... distasteful," Saint Topman Warcury observed with obvious disdain, "we must acknowledge the effectiveness of your recruitment techniques. The force you have assembled demonstrates combat capabilities approaching half of a Yonko crew. The concentration of Devil Fruit users under your command is particularly impressive."
The backhanded compliment carried its own threat. They had evaluated his organization and found it worthy of harvesting rather than simply destroying.
"Which brings us to the matter of your immediate usefulness," Nusjuro said, his tone shifting from interrogation to command. "You should consider yourself fortunate that current circumstances require your continued existence. After the operation against Kaido concludes successfully, you may return to Dressrosa to resume your... royal duties."
The pause before 'royal duties' made it clear how little respect they held for his kingship.
"However," Nusjuro continued, "you will immediately surrender the executive known as Sugar to our custody. Such a useful Devil Fruit ability is wasted in the hands of a mere pirate organization."
The demand hit Doflamingo like a physical blow to the chest. Sugar wasn't just one of his most powerful subordinates—she was the keystone that held his entire Dressrosa operation together. Without her Hobi Hobi no Mi (Hobby-Hobby Fruit) to maintain the toy soldier workforce and erase inconvenient memories, his dark empire would collapse within months.
Blue veins bulged across Doflamingo's forehead as fury warred with desperation in his chest. His fists clenched involuntarily, the instinctive response to being cornered by predators. But what could he do? Threaten to reveal their national treasure to the press? Morgans would never dare publish such information, and even if he did, the God's Knights would ensure both Doflamingo and the journalist met swift, permanent ends.
The Five Elders had tolerated his existence until now partly due to the Donquixote Family's historical significance, partly because his criminal enterprises had served their broader purposes.
That leverage was rapidly diminishing as his usefulness in other areas declined.
"We are also quite interested in your artificial Devil Fruit research," Saint Mars added with casual authority. "Upon completion of the Kaido operation, you will compile all relevant data and transfer it to our research division. Your collaboration with Caesar Clown has produced... intriguing results."
The scientist's capture by Admiral Kizaru had already been confirmed through intelligence channels, effectively ending Doflamingo's SMILE fruit production regardless of his own survival. The Five Elders were simply claiming ownership of research they had already acquired through other means.
The scope of his defeat was becoming clear. Every secret revealed, every asset compromised, every advantage neutralized. The Sky Screen had systematically destroyed decades of careful planning in the span of a few hours.
But even facing total annihilation, Doflamingo's tactical mind continued functioning. If he was going to be sacrificed anyway, he could at least choose the manner of his sacrifice.
"I propose an alternative arrangement," he said, his voice steady despite the circumstances. "Kaido currently travels aboard one of my merchant ships, trusting in our alliance. I can have my crew alter course toward the Devil's Triangle—that perpetually fog-shrouded region where visibility drops to nothing and navigation becomes impossible."
The Five Elders' attention focused on him with laser intensity, recognizing the strategic implications immediately.
"That cursed sea serves as the perfect killing ground for someone of Kaido's capabilities," Doflamingo continued, warming to his theme. "According to the Sky Screen's revelations, his unusual Haki draws power from sunlight itself. In the Devil's Triangle's perpetual darkness, that enhancement would be completely negated."
The elderly rulers exchanged meaningful glances, silent communication passing between them with the efficiency of decades of collaboration. The proposal had merit—Kaido was powerful enough that even they would prefer to face him at a significant disadvantage.
"Furthermore," Doflamingo pressed his advantage, "the fog would prevent any potential escape routes. Even if he defeats whatever forces we deploy, he would remain trapped in that maze of mist until his strength finally fails."
It was a sound strategy, and they all knew it. The Devil's Triangle had swallowed countless ships over the centuries, its supernatural fog making it nearly impossible to navigate without specialized equipment or abilities.
After several moments of silent deliberation, Saint Saturn nodded slowly. "Your proposal has merit. Proceed with the course alteration immediately. Consider this your opportunity for... atonement."
The word carried the weight of absolute finality. This would be Doflamingo's chance to prove his continued value to the World Government. Success might earn him a reprieve; failure would certainly mean death.
But even as he accepted the assignment, Doflamingo couldn't shake the feeling that he had just signed Kaido's death warrant—and possibly his own.
-Real World: Donquixote Merchant Ship-
Hundreds of miles away from the political machinations unfolding in Mary Geoise, Kaido of the Beasts stood at the bow of Doflamingo's merchant ship, his massive frame silhouetted against the darkening sky. The ship cut through the waves with deceptive purpose, its course seemingly random but actually following a carefully plotted route toward one of the most dangerous regions in all the seas.
The Blue Dragon was lost in contemplation, his thoughts centered on revelations that had shaken even his legendary composure. The Sky Screen's display of Brook's necromantic abilities had triggered memories he had spent decades trying to forget.
"Captain Rocks," he murmured to the wind, his voice carrying a note of genuine longing. "Has the world truly forgotten your name? After everything we accomplished, everything we destroyed... have you become nothing more than a footnote in history?"
The Rocks Pirates had been the most powerful crew of their generation, a collection of monsters whose combined might had threatened to topple the World Government itself. Their captain, Rocks D. Xebec, had possessed ambitions that dwarfed even Kaido's current dreams of worldwide war.
"I would give anything to fight you again," Kaido continued, his grip tightening on the ship's railing. "To test my current strength against the man who taught me what true power meant."
At that time, Kaido had been younger, weaker, still learning the fundamentals of combat and conquest. He hadn't yet acquired his Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu (Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon), hadn't yet begun his transformation into one of the world's most feared Yonko.
The Battle of God Valley had shattered everything—their crew, their dreams, their sense of invincibility. The four-way conflict between the Rocks Pirates, the Roger Pirates, the Marines, and the mysterious forces of the World Government had resulted in carnage on a scale rarely seen in the modern era.
Thinking about that chaos now made Kaido's blood sing with anticipation. The complexity of the battlefield, the uncertain alliances, the way power had shifted moment by moment—it had been warfare at its most pure and brutal.
"Brook's Yomi Yomi no Mi (Revive-Revive Fruit) is indeed formidable," King observed, joining his captain at the ship's bow. The Lunarian's expression was thoughtful as he considered the implications of what they had witnessed. "But Whitebeard's death shows how dramatically the balance of power has shifted. The changes five years hence are... significant."
King had served as Kaido's right hand for decades, but even he found the Sky Screen's revelations difficult to process. The idea that Edward Newgate—the World's Strongest Man—could be defeated and killed was almost incomprehensible.
"There seems to be an invisible hand guiding events," King continued, his analytical mind working through the patterns they had observed. "Someone or something orchestrating changes on a global scale."
Both powerful men found their thoughts turning to the same name simultaneously: Buggy the Clown.
The red-nosed pirate remained one of the Sky Screen's greatest mysteries. His apparent weakness contradicted his demonstrated capabilities, his bumbling public persona clashed with evidence of sophisticated long-term planning. Most disturbing of all was his apparent ability to decompose even Armament Haki—a feat that should have been impossible for any known Devil Fruit.
"I want to meet this clown," Kaido declared, his voice carrying the weight of imperial command. "If he truly possesses the power to break down Haki itself, then he represents either a valuable ally or a threat that must be eliminated."
The Azure Dragon's tactical mind was already working through the implications. An enemy who could neutralize Haki would be incredibly dangerous to someone of Kaido's caliber—but an ally with such capabilities would be invaluable in the wars to come.
As the two discussed strategy and speculation, neither noticed that their merchant ship had quietly altered course. The crew, following orders transmitted through encrypted Den Den Mushi, were steering them toward a region marked on no official charts—a place where the very sea seemed to swallow light itself.
-Real World: Devil's Triangle-
Deep within the perpetual fog that shrouded the Devil's Triangle, another player in this unfolding drama remained blissfully unaware of the approaching storm. Gecko Moria, once a proud pirate captain with dreams of challenging Kaido himself, now existed as a shadow of his former ambitions.
The years had not been kind to the Kage Kage no Mi (Shadow-Shadow Fruit) user. What had once been a powerful, if eccentric, warrior had devolved into an obese recluse who preferred to let his zombie army handle any actual fighting. The defeat his crew had suffered at Kaido's hands had broken something fundamental in his spirit, leaving him content to hide in this fog-shrouded maze rather than pursue his former dreams of conquest.
"Brook," Moria muttered as he wandered through the twisted architecture of Thriller Bark, his massive zombie ship.